Philippines Guide

The Bicol Region is a place that is rich in natural resources and beauty. One of its famous lakes is Lake Buhi. Lake Buhi is located in Buhi, Camarines Sur. The depth of this lake is estimated to be about eight meters average. Lake Buhi itself covers an area that is about 4,447.9 acres. There are two theories of how Lake Buhi was formed.

The first is when Mt. Iriga’s side collapsed due to an earthquake in 1641. A landslide resulted creating a natural dam in which Lake Buhi came about. The second theory is when Mt. Asog erupted thus resulting to the beautiful Lake Buhi.

Lake Buhi is rich with marine life. Sinarapan (Mistichthys luzonensis) is one of the fish species that can be found in Lake Buhi. This is the world’s smallest fish. The famous Tilapia is commercially harvested in Lake Buhi. You can even buy these fresh and alive. Other fish species are also found in Lake Buhi.

Aside from marine life, the surrounding forest of Lake Buhi is also a home to different bird species. No less than 25 bird species live here. Black-naped Monarch, Philippine Pygmy Woodpecker, White-eared Brown Dove, Elegant Tit, and the Philippine Hanging Parrot can be found here. The Philippine Cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fasicularis) also makes its abode in the forests surrounding Lake Buhi.

Today, Lake Buhi is the main source of livelihood for the residents in Buhi, Camarines Sur. The fishing industry thrives lively in Buhi. A Hydroelectric Plant gets its water supply from Lake Buhi. The National Irrigation Administration also uses the water from Lake Buhi to irrigate farms and rice fields in the Rinconada towns including Iriga City.

How do you get to Lake Buhi? From Manila, you can have a 12 to 14-hour ride on a bus to Iriga City, Camarines Sur. From Iriga City, a jeep will take you to Buhi town for about 15 minutes.

And right there, in the middle of the town, you can view the crystal waters of Lake Buhi. Aside from getting on a bus from Manila, you can also fly to Pili Airport for about 45 minutes. And from there, you can travel from Pili, Camarines Sur to Iriga City.

Buhi, Camarines Sur, the town where Lake Buhi is located is a peaceful place. Prepare to be greeted by fresh air and friendly people. The clear water of Lake Buhi reflects sunlight that gives peace to the soul. Visiting Lake Buhi can be considered as a great experience.

Tags: Boracay, Visayas, White Beach, Divers, Bicol, Cebu, Filipino

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One of the religious churches in the province of Pangasinan, the Church of Our Lady of Manaoag, located in Manaoag, Pangasinan, purportedly has a long history of miraculous and pious events that are duplicated in the murals all over the church. This is done so that the events will never be forgotten. Devotees, coming from all over the globe, have various reasons for visiting the place among of which are pleads for health restoration, good voyage, or better fate.

Swarms of people fill the place during Sundays and religious occasions such as the Virgin Mary’s birthday, Holy Week, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. Inside the church, there is an archaic ambiance with the old bricks and ancient architecture. Pews are lined up from all sides and at the very center is the altar. In the highest portion of the altar is where the Lady of Manaoag majestically stands.

With its crown and scepter made of shimmering diamonds, anyone could just but stare with awe. Surrounding her are numerous flickering electric candles that seem to dance with a rhythm. From the faces of the devotees, one could spell out the great need for miracles on health, fortune, problems, and a lot more. The feeling of having despaired when all else failed and only an ounce of hope is left.

There is also a chance for people to be able to touch the Lady of Manaoag by climbing up to the second floor through a stairs located at the back of the church. The soft velvet gown worn by the Lady of Manaoag has a faded spot from where the devotees streaked their hands. After a devotee makes a quick prayer, touches the back of the Lady of Manaoag, and makes a sign of the cross, they move across a souvenir store and on their way out of the building.

Of course, when visiting the place, one should not forget about stopping by the stores situated inside and near the church. The canteen at the parking lot of the church sells the best turon in town. It is a delightful snack which is a banana wrapped in a crispy material and coated with sugar. Outside, there are stores that also sell souvenirs such as prayer books, colorful rosaries of different sizes, carved wooden religious figures, wooden crafts, and local native cakes such as tupig and patupat.

From Manaoag, one could also go to the beaches of Dagupan, San Fabian, and Lingayen, to the commercial city of Urdaneta, or to the Señor Divino Tesoro in Calasiao.

These are but among the things that should be visited in Our Lady of Manaoag Church in Pangasinan. Religion, miracles, native food, and souvenirs are all worth the time spent in the travel to the place. Come visit and have a worthwhile experience in the Our Lady of Manaoag Church.

Tags: White Beach, Tourist Destinations, Diving, Tagalog, Visayas, Divers, Filipino

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Laoag, one of the princess cities in the North, is a microcosm of the country’s rich historical heritage and natural resources—a proud city of Ilocos.

Laoag is about 9 hours from Manila via a land route. The North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) accesses the northern cities, Laoag among them. Bus stations to the North have trips plying a Laoag destination.
 
Here are the top 10 things to see in this fine area of the Philippines:

1. Bojeador Lighthouse. This is no ordinary lighthouse—it’s Asia’s oldest and tallest lighthouse built in 1892. Climb the 73-step spiral staircase to get to the top and enjoy the grandeur of the China Sea coast and the adjacent quiet town of Burgos.

There’s a cute but very interesting and revealing museum at the base of the lighthouse.

2. Then there’s one of Ilocos’ best beach, Pagudpud, two hours away further north from Laoag. Its super fine white sand plus a better grasp of the South China Sea will be quite an experience.

3. The Sand Dunes of Barangay La Paz. This is considered one of nature’s geological monuments and feats. The place also offers a superb view of the South China Sea.

4. Then the centuries-old St. William’s Cathedral—one of the country’s big Catholic churches. It houses the seat of the Laoag Diocese. It was built by Augustinan monks in 1612 following an Italian Renaissance architectural influence. The entire building is supported by unique pairs of grouped columns.

5. Now, St. William’s has an amazing sinking bell tower tourists shouldn’t miss. It stands 45 meters high but probably stood higher before it began sinking. Augustinians built it on sand, blocks away from the church—missing what Christ said about wisely building on rock—and the sinking episodes had begun ever since. Its main door now is buried halfway—it used to accommodate a man sitting erect on horseback. So visit there while the door is passable.

6. A museum built in 1878 as a tabacalera or tobacco warehouse. The Museo Ilocos Norte shows the history and lifestyles of the Ilocanos even before the Spaniards came to the country. See hints of indigenous technology and architecture, like farm and fishing implements, local products, and typical ancestral homes.

7. Laoag’s St. Augustine Church or Paoay Church. Built from 1694 to 1710. It’s earthquake-proof, following the Baroque Architecture. Its bell tower had been a look-out station of both Katipuneros in Spanish times and Filipino Scouts against the Japanese. Former President Marcos declared it a national treasure and is listed in UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

8. Fort Ilocandia Resort. This one’s a 5-star hotel with five buildings rendered in a romantic Spanish colonial architecture. The whole thing sits in a 77-hectare land adjacent to the sea. Its beach stretches across almost a mile.

9. The Juan Luna Shrine. Located in Badoc, Ilocos Norte, it is a reconstruction of the two-story original house where the national painter and patriot was born. It has reproductions of his historical works, “Spoliarium” and El Pacto de Sangre.”

10. The Marcos Museum and Mausoleum in Batac, Ilocos Norte. The late President Ferdinand Marcos lies in state there preserved in a sealed glass-paneled vacuum crypt. His many memorabilia are also on display there.

A visit to Laoag without seeing these ten sceneries is like finding ten priceless pearls on the sand but ignoring them in favor of a handful of sand because it reminds of some picnic at the beach.

Tags: Snorkeling, traveling, Visayas, Pinoy, Philippine Islands, Bicol, expat

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Just waiting for stressed up Manilans aching for a respite is a hilltop enclave for rest, fun, or inspirational talks. Spread out on a seven-hectare clearing is the Rizal Re-Creation Center in Rizal, Laguna, complete with lodging, dining, strolling, sports, fishing, and conference facilities.

Taking the South Luzon Expressway, the hilltop spot takes about two hours from Makati through San Pablo, Laguna. This city is still home to old mansions reminiscent of Spanish times. Sign posts for directions are visible from San Pablo all the way up to Rizal and the place itself.

A series of sharp zigzag turns on the road passing through countryside scenes of mango groves, fruit farms, and breath-taking cliffs tells you Rizal Recreation is just nearby.

For active visitors out for action and out-door adventure, the place affords swimming pools—a shallower one for tots, and a six foot deep for adults, with a challenging long slide—all nestled at the foot of a gently sloping hill surrounded by abundant fruit trees.

A fitness gym lies next to the vast camping and soccer areas, with basketball courts, and an enclosed beach volleyball carpeted with white sand from Boracay. Wide hockey, soccer and camping grounds lie adjacent to the daunting obstacle course.

A cozy snack kiosk (with internet cubicle) and huge dining hall is in the middle of all the action, accessible to the hungry adventurer, and not far are the lodging cottages named after Southeast Asian nations.

Take a sip of cool coconut juice fresh from the tree as one sits back in the kiosk for refection.

A conference hall also stands in the middle of it all with extra session rooms, a two-floor bamboo tree house, mini zoo, and fishing area. Not far away towers the mystical Mount Banahaw, said to be haven for fairies and nymphets, a perfect destination for a planned morning hike.

Guests are always treated to an evening of “Tops Presentation”—a deft demo of spinning tops from the smallest to the biggest in the world. The tops are a collection of the Rev. Joseph Mauk, from Ohio, the manager, from his travels in Asia.

Meals come in buffet-style, classy and tasty, eat-all-you-can, served by polite crews, and accompanied by cheery, gospel music. The swell meals, courtesy of Mrs. Mauk, are often lavished with sweet, puffy European bread.

The stay can pamper the appetite for everything pleasurable and drop one’s harmful vice habits for a while; vices are barred in the premises to make the vacation healthy and clean.

For a needed break full of gratifying escapades, fun sports, meditation, quiet talks, and good food, visit Rizal Recreation Center in Laguna.

Tags: Divers, philippines travel tips, Dive Sites, Tagalog, traveling, Manila, vacation

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For almost two centuries the Cagsawa Ruins has stood as a symbol of Bicol region’s impressive landscape, rich history and the people’s strength and resiliency to face and to rise from the ravages of Mother Nature.

Cagsawa Ruins Park is a few minutes jeepney ride from Legazpi City. Legazpi City is one of the most important cities of Bicol. By air, it is 55 minutes away from Manila. About 9 hours travel time by air-conditioned buses that ply the route daily.

Cagsawa Ruins Park is one of the most visited places in the area. From this point tourists are afforded with an unhampered view of the majestic Mayon Volcano with its world renowned perfect cone.

Folklore states that originally Kagsawa was derived from the word “KAG” meaning owner and “SAWA” meaning python. Kagsawa could also mean excesses or too much. The February 1, 1814 Mayon eruption was said to be a divine justice for the people’s overindulgence.

The 1814 eruption was recorded to be worst eruption of Mt. Mayon. Some 1,200 people who took refuge and sought the sanctuary of the church during the eruption all died when the church was engulfed by the flowing lava.

Only the Cagsawa church belfry remains today. It is a grim reminder of the events that took place and many people come to see the belfry as a reminder of times past. Through all the developments done by the local government, the Cagsawa church belfry remains standing, with the giant stones spewed by Mt. Mayon around and with the history of the region buried underneath.

The place is now called Cagsawa Park. It is managed today by the municipal government of Daraga, Albay.

At the entrance of the park visitors will find a wide variety of souvenir shops and stalls which showcase native products and handicrafts. A wide selection of T-shirts with native scenes and designs are also available.

Inside the park are restaurants where tourists and local residents feast on native food and delicacies. Inasal na sira (grilled fish) and Bicol express-a spicy shrimp dish with coconut cream is highly recommended. Both these dishes are quite famous all over the Philippines and should not be missed.

Cagsawa Park now boasts a modest sized swimming pool with plenty of loungers where visitors can laze and gaze at the majestic vista of Mt. Mayon.

Plants and flower lovers will be thrilled with the display of exotic flowers and orchids that are on sale. One needs to be a good haggler though to get a good buy.

Tags: Mindanao, Davao, Tagalog, Pinoy, Filipino, Visayas, asia travel

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One of the oldest learning institutions in Manila, and in the Philippines, is the University of Santo Tomas, or UST. Philippine national hero Dr. Jose Rizal studied Medicine in this centennial university. Other heroes and some Philippine presidents also graduated here. A short trip to this historic university captures the grandeur of the past in the present setting. It traces history back in 1611.

UST, or fondly called “uste” by generations of benefactors, was built in 1611 on approval of no less than King Philip II of Spain. Named after St. Thomas Aquinas the Dominican priest, UST was first situated inside the Intramuros Wall (Manila at the time was a walled city) as a convent and seminary. It mostly offered courses in theology, philosophy, grammar, logic, the arts, and other related courses.

In 1871 it began offering Medicine and Pharmacy. Later in 1927 UST was transferred in a 220,000 square meter lot in the Sulucan Hills in Sampaloc, Manila where it now sits right at the corner of Espana (or Quezon Boulevard Extension) and Lacson Avenue (former Forbes avenue). Well, the hills are gone today and UST campus in Manila is on a flat ground clustered with old and new buildings, a hospital, and abundant trees and parks. Other courses were eventually offered. Plans are made for an upcoming UST Laguna, General Santos City, and even Sri Lanka.

The main building was built also in 1927. This historical building in Manila allegedly boasts of being one of the first earthquake-proof buildings in the Philippines and Asia. This historical building in Manila is said to sway with earthquake motion. It is styled in classic Baroque architecture, of perfect symmetry, with an interesting look-out tower in the middle.

In World War II, the conquering Japanese Army converted UST campus into a prison camp. Lots of Filipino and American soldiers were imprisoned and reportedly tormented here. It was one of many buildings damaged when Americans attacked to liberate Manila from the Japanese. After restoring this historical building in Manila, other buildings were added, like the popular UST hospital.

Today, besides having its grand history preserved in the walls of its historical building, UST Manila boasts of some 35,000 students, state-of-the-art learning and medical facilities, a modern gym, managed parks and greeneries, and other modern amenities. Its remarkable historical, scientific, and medical museums are often field trip destinations of other schools. The air of past and present grandeur can still be had in a short visit there.

Tags: Scuba, philippines travel tips, Pinay, Tourist Destinations, scuba diving, Filipina, Dive Sites

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Coming from the countryside into Manila a traveler may be astounded by the distant sight of thick smug that overshadows the metropolis. Can any spot in Metro Manila still offer fresh, woodland air? The good news is that there still are. One of them is right smack where greeneries still abound.

A refreshing experience of the woods and its wildlife in a safe environment. Quezon City harbors such a place. Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife was started in the mid Martial Law years (late 70s to early 80s). It’s an 80-hectare city forest reserve for woodland and animal life. It is along the Elliptical Road in Diliman, Quezon City, across the Quezon Memorial Circle.

From downtown Manila travel takes, via the Espana-Quezon Avenue route, some 45 minutes to an hour. Public transportation plying Quiapo to Philcoa or Fairview will never fail to drive past this Philippine tourist spot in Quezon City. It’s right at the very tip of Quezon Avenue right across Kidney Center and Lung Center of the Philippines.

Named “Philippine Parks and Wildlife” in the Marcos administration, it was changed to “Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife” in the reign of President Corazon Aquino. This Philippine tourist spot in Quezon City boasts of a number of caged wild animals and tree and plant species, plus a vast playground, deeply shaded promenades, a man-made lagoon, eatery, huts and cottages, among others.

Lots of school excursions, tourist trips, movie and commercial shooting, and casual visits are scheduled in this Philippine tourist spot in Quezon City. Even health buffs like joggers and volleyball and badminton aficionados frequent it, especially in early mornings. Picnic grooves and huts are best for outdoor meals and helpings are available at the eatery beside the lagoon.

The lagoon is littered with benches at its edges under big tree shades. A sunken amphitheater is at its bank. It is a favorite hang out of lovers, book readers, bonding families, idle visitors, and students rehearsing a drama or concert. Others celebrate religious fellowships there and display public communion with their Creator. The lagoon has an extended covered port where curious visitors can venture farther and nose around for what may be hiding in the lake.

Life activities of men, the wilds, and nature burst with vibrancy at Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wild Life. This wooded haven standing right in the midst of business affords travelers with an accessible Philippine tourist spot in Quezon City.

Tags: Asia, asia travel, Beach, Cebu, philippine-beaches, traveling, Snorkeling

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Mt. Isarog is a stratovolcano and is 1,966 meters above sea level. Located in Camarines Sur, Philippines, Mt. Isarog is considered as Southern Luzon’s highest forested peak. This is the site of Mt. Isarog National Park. Six municipalities and a city have territorial jurisdiction of Mt. Isarog National Park. These are Calabanga, Tinambac, Ocampo, Tigaon, Goa, Pili, and Naga City.

Mountain climbers and backpackers will enjoy trekking on Mt. Isarog’s slopes for a nature adventure. The best time to visit Mt. Isarog National Park is during the dry months of January to April. The temperature may be hot in the lowlands but it is cold and refreshing up in mountain’s forest.

Going to Mt. Isarog National Park’s summit is an eight to ten hour hike from Barangay Penicuason. This Penicuason trail leads to six campsites situated at various elevations. Bringing your own drinking water up to Camp One is a must. The clean streams and refreshing waterfalls can be the source of the hiker’s drinking water for the trip from Camp One going up to Camp Six.

Mt. Isarog National Park is furnished by nature with many natural waterfalls and springs. The Malabsay Waterfalls is located near Mt. Isarog National Park’s entrance. Here, visitors can go swimming and have picnics with friends and family. The Nabuntulan Spring is not far from Malabsay Waterfalls.

The Magragobrob Waterfalls is found inside Mt. Isarog’s crater on the Goa side of Mt. Isarog National Park. A 40-meter waterfall that emanates sulfuric waters down to Rangas River. Hikers usually rest here. The Hiwacloy Sulfur Springs is found here where the warm sulfuric water is locally believed to cure minor ailments and skin diseases.

On the Tigaon side of Mt. Isarog National Park, the Bulalacao and Tumaguiti waterfalls and four other smaller waterfalls are situated. The Consocep Mountain Resort maintains the said waterfalls for rest and recreation.

There are other interesting places to visit in Mt. Isarog National Park. The World War II Tunnels along Pili and Ocampo that were constructed by the Japanese soldiers brings an eerie chill. The Deer Farm in Barangay Consocep keeps five species of Australian deer. The Butterfly Farm in Pili that take care of a wide classification of butterflies and flowers.

Mt. Isarog National Park has an entrance fee of P5.00 for Filipinos and 10 USD for foreigners. Staying overnight in Mt. Isarog National Park is allowed within the Protected Area Office. Food and accommodations are always available at the foot of Mt. Isarog where pension houses, hotels, and inns are everywhere.

If you travel by air, you’ll have a 45-minute flight to Pili Airport from Manila. You then make a 30-minute drive to Naga City. It’s a 10 to 12-hour ride to Naga City by bus from Manila.

Tags: Philippine Islands, expat, philippines-beaches, vacation, Philippines, Bicol, Tourist

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About two hours away from Manila is the province of Bulacan and somewhere at its edge bordering the next province at San Miguel is the historic spot of Biak Na Bato. It is a 330-hectare National Park of natural springs and caves where about a century ago the first Philippine Republic was hastily proclaimed to keep the Americans from taking over the country which was virtually in the hands of Aguinaldo’s revolutionary army.

Biak Na Bato is a hilly cave fortress that looks like a big, spreading rock covered with cracks and splits inside and out, with some pieces sprawled out the vicinity and along the river. This historic spot, the Aguinaldo cave, the main cave of a network of caves, used to be the headquarters of Aguinaldo and the first Philippine Republic cabinet officials and its arm.

It actually has more than a hundred caves, many of which remain unexplored. Underneath the Aguinaldo cave runs an underground natural spring with cool and refreshing water. Outside, the crystal clear river runs smoothly, blocked now and then by boulders scattered indiscriminately on the river. The pristine river looks spectacular amidst the lush green forest where wild birds occasionally shout their weird cries, either in celebration or lament.

Along the riverbeds lie sections of cracks and openings of the giant rock, and one opening, called the “Cuarto Cuarto” or “room partitions” has plenty of stalactites as its “chandeliers” on the cave’s ceiling. This opening is one of the cave networks issuing from Aguinaldo’s cave. A further stroll following the riverbed uphill and downhill leads to the majestic “Bahay Paniki Cave” which ceiling soars 50 meters high. A swarm of “Paniki,” or bat, regularly hovers on the ceiling of this awesome mouth which looks like the main crack of this hilly rock.

Going farther on this trek along the riverbed, one will discover that this river is where several natural springs in the area congregate. Also, a large contributory is the spring waters from the mountain systems of Sierra Madre mountain range. This natural spring serves the local communities around Biak Na Bato, and partly, Metro Manila residents.

This historical spot, Biak Na Bato, was the headquarters of the first Philippine Republic. It was a cave fortress affording seclusion and protection. Up to the present time this historical spot continues to offer a hideaway haven amid cool natural springs and a thought-provoking labyrinth of cave networks.

Tags: Filipino, asia travel, Manila, traveling, Visayas, Diving, Travel Philippines

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